Tigers' Brad Penny seeking another World Series ring with new team

AP File PhotoTigers right-hander Brad Penny posted a 3.23 ERA in nine starts for St. Louis last year before an upper back strain in May sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

DETROIT -- Brad Penny isn’t ready to fill the role as a mentor for up-and-coming pitching prospects just yet. The 32-year-old right-hander is seeking a second championship ring and still wants to win -- not teach.

Penny said during a teleconference Thursday that he had rejected offers from several clubs in favor of signing with Detroit who offered him the best chance to win and an opportunity to pitch in its starting rotation.

“I had some offers from teams that I didn’t think were able to compete,” Penny said. “I would have been more in a role of teaching young kids how to go about business, but I’m at a point where I want to win.”

Penny said he was lured to Detroit by the chance to win immediately, but didn’t sign earlier because he wanted to weigh his options. Dombrowski acknowledged last week that the Tigers had initially expressed interest in Penny at the general managers meetings in November.

“I was leaning towards Detroit most of the time, but I had a few offers that I had to consider,” Penny said.

Penny, who was reportedly being targeted by several National League clubs, eventually signed a one-year deal that included a $3 million base salary, with the potential for another $3 million in incentives. He suggested multiple clubs offered him a chance to be its closer, but the 11-year veteran said the chance to start in a well-balanced rotation was too tempting to pass up.

“(Closing) was something I considered,” Penny said. “But, I still want to start and I think Detroit is going to give me the best chance to go out there and start every fifth day."

To make room on its roster for Penny, Detroit designated the contract of pitcher Armando Galarraga before eventually trading him to Arizona. Dombrowski said last week that he considered Penny an upgrade over Galarraga and expects him to immediately fill a spot in the rotation.

Penny posted a 3.23 ERA in nine starts for St. Louis last year before an upper back strain in May sidelined him for the remainder of the season. It was his second injury-shortened season in the last three years.

“People may think ‘Oh, he gets hurt all the time,’” Penny said. “And, unfortunately, I have been injured in 2008 and again last year, but my arm has been feeling great, I’ve been throwing great and it’s not like my velocity has dropped off.”

Penny, who has spent nearly his entire career in the National League, posted a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts with the Boston Red Sox in 2009 -- his lone stint in the American League. Penny acknowledged the difference between the leagues, but said his command issues were the cause of his bloated ERA.

“There’s definitely a difference (between the AL and NL),” Penny said. “But, my struggles in Boston had nothing to do with having a better hitter in the league – it was me not locating my pitches and getting behind.”

Penny will join a rotation that features Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Phil Coke -- a staff that he said draws similar comparisons to the Marlins’ 2003 postseason rotation, which featured Josh Beckett, Carl Pavano, Mark Redman, Dontrelle Willis and himself.

“Pitching and defense can win you a championship – it did it with us in Florida,” Penny said. “This club is going to have great pitching, defense and enough offense. We just have to put it all together.”

Penny went on to win the World Series with the Marlins in 2003 – alongside then-teammate Miguel Cabrera – and the two-time All-Star said he remains intent on finishing his career a two-time champion.

“On paper, we’ve got a great team – our pitching staff is going to be incredible,” Penny said. “But you have to go out and perform on the field. We all put our uniform on to make it to the World Series.

“That’s what I want to get back to. That’s something they can never take away from you. All the good, all the injuries and all of the bad – if you win a World Series, that’s something you never forget.”